Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL87502’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCAL87502’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; light violet-colored flowers with yellow-colored throats; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL87502’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL87502’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Calibrachoa plants with uniform plant habit, freely branching growth habit, unique flower coloration and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 10, 2008 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Suncalsifobu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,659, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code name C4290-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 27, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 28, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and various cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCAL87502’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCAL87502’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Light violet-colored flowers with yellow-colored throats.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Suncalsifobu’. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘Suncalsifobu’ in flower color as plants of ‘Suncalsifobu’ have light purple-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding and more freely branching than plants of ‘Suncalsifobu’.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have blue-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa ‘Caluplivi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,177. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘Caluplivi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than and not         as trailing as plants of ‘Caluplivi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Caluplivi’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Caluplivi’ had light purple-colored         flowers with dark venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL87502’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL87502’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring and early summer in 15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 7,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched one time and were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL87502’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘Suncalsifobu’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,659.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code name C420-01, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 22 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about             seven primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             lateral branches; pinching enhances branching; moderately             vigorous, dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 12.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 33 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 16 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length, vegetative.—About 8 mm.         -   Internode length, reproductive.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Outwardly spreading and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 146C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,             close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 137B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 47 open flowers and flower buds per lateral branch;             flowers face upright and outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa begin flowering about six weeks after             planting; plants flower continuously from spring though the             autumn in California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 3 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm by 8 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.2 cm.             Diameter: About 7 mm. Color: Close to 92D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly cordate. Petal apex: Emarginate. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Pubescent.             Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent.             Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to             N88C. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 92C.             Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 85A;             venation, close to 85A; color does not fade with             development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 85C; venation, close to N77D. Throat: Close to 160B;             venation, close to 146D. Tube: Close to 161C; venation,             close to 147C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal             length: About 8 mm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:             Ligulate to narrowly elliptical. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 30° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five per             flower. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close             to 145C. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 10C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 11A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 8 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style             color: Close to 146C. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color:             Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 145C. Seeds and fruits:             Seed and fruit development have not been observed on plants             of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL87502’ as illustrated and described. 